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Joy 



BY 



LILLIAN E. CRANERj 



I jrnile, you jrnile — 
The world ij- bright! 

I J'igh, you J-igh — 

And thuj- make night! 






c^MISS LILLIAN E. CRANERj, 

PUBLISHER 
4168 Howe Street, Oakland, California 




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21 1913 



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CONTENTS 

Page 

Dedication 4 

Cheer 5 

Our New Year Prayer — 1915 6 

If We But Try 7 

The Dawn 8 

Thou Art My Shield 9 

San Francisco Bay on a Sunny Day 10 

You 11 

Sunset Meditations 12 

What "Pays?" 13 

Sonnet — "Life's Poems" 14 

The Early Morn 15 

Birth 16 

Smile 17 

The Shades of Your Heart 18 

The Sunrise 19 

The Answer 19 

"I Am But I" 20 

The Smile 21 

Sunshine 21 

The Presence 22 

Life 23 

A Word Portrait 24 

Winter 25 

Summer 25 

Love's Gold 26 

Today 27 

Life's Essence 28 

To You, Dear World 29 

Faith 30 

The Workers' Prayer 31 

Ev'ry Seed Hides a Flow'r 32 



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Copyrighted 1915 

by 

LILLIAN E. CRANER 




O YOU, who seek for Joy, but 

know not where it dwells; and 

YOU who know Joy well, yet have 

not learned to tell your Brother 

Men; to You, whose wondrous 

works have taught me how to do my 

humble best; and, in deep gratitude and 

deeper love, to those whose rich affection, 

generous care and never-faltering trust 

have made my life so far a Happy Day, I 

give these thoughts which each of you 

inspired. 

Lillian E, Craner. 



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CHEER. 

(We make the sunshine of our life, 
We make the Winter day, 
We make Joy's flowers bloom anew 
When kindly words we say.) 

Though skies be grey 

We need not say 

That Life is dark and drear — 

The only way 

To live each day 

Is making our own cheer. 

Then dark or bright, 

Morn, noon or night, 

Our hearts will be the Sun ; 

In sound and sight 

We'll know delight — 

And share with everyone. 

—Lillian E. Craner. 



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OUR NEW YEAR PRAYER— 1915. 

Lord, for the blessings that we know 

We offer thanks today, 
And for the good that forth will go 

To dear ones far away. 

Lord, for Thy kindness in the Past 
We thank Thee; for the Sorrow 

We only pray it may not last, 
Let Joy return "Tomorrow." 

Lord, for the Nations now in stress, 

We pray Thee end the War; 
Let Time's obliteration bless. 

And Evil be no more. 

Lord, for Thy guidance all the year 
Our thanks now take; and oh! 

We need Thee, Father, ever near. 
As Thou, who made us, know. 

—Lillian E. Craner. 



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IF WE BUT TRY. 

I tease and chat and play a while, 
And then I grin, and people smile, — 

I wonder why ! 
Mayhap I sigh ; then people gaze, 
And sigh, themselves, half in amaze, — 

Just from my sigh ! 
So on Life's way if we but smile. 
And try our best, just for a while, — 

Then bye and bye , 

We'll see no faces sad and drear, 
The Reign of Love we'll welcome here — 

If WE but try. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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THE DAWN. 

The sun smiles through our windows every 

morn 
And says: "Awaken, welcome in the dawn; 
The day is new, the Past is gone for e'er; 
Take thou the task to make the Present fair." 

Each day is new-made just for us to gain 
An upward step, through our preceding pain, 
A chance to see ahead a goal secure 
And walk with hearts the new day has made 
pure. 

Each day has time to love, and pray, and 

dream. 
When work is done ; and therefore does it 

seem 
Most sad that we so often drift along 
Nor strive to turn to Right, instead of Wrong. 

That we have often stumbled in the past. 
And our last failure will not be the last 
Of all our life, should simply help us, friend. 
The hours now ours more wisely far to spend. 

Success is only ours while we still try 

For greater heights, upreaching toward the 

sky; 
And Failure is not Failure if we learn — 
Then toward the Right with new-found cour- 
age turn. 



While life is ours we owe to it a debt — 

To try our hardest, and through troubles met 

With courage, and through joyous hours, well 

spent, 
At last know what a rounded life has meant. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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" THOU ART MY SHIELD." 

The day is dark, with cloudburst imminent, 
The tint of heaven changed to darker hue; 
The icy breeze makes bitter thrusts at you — 
The fury of the elements unpent. 
Forth go the workers, with their heads down- 
bent, 
Umbrellas raised, though futile, it is true ; 
Some seem to mind no gale that ever blew, 
While others falter onward, almost spent. 

So those who face Life's Storm in trembling 

fear, 
Ungirt with Faith, — that wondrous heritage 
Of all-embracing Love, through ev'ry age, — 
Will lose, unfound, the Road of Joy made clear 
To those who trust God's eye and seek His ear 
Content with Love, — nor fear the Tempest's 

rage. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 




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SAN FRANCISCO BAY 
ON A SUNNY DAY. 

So blue the waters of the Bay, 

So deep the sky above, 

That one can see, 

It seems to me, 

God's eyes, a-beam with Love. 

The snowy gulls above the boat 
Weave figures in the air, 
Their airy grace 
Takes fitting place 
Within the Bay scene fair. 

And decked with trees the Island near, — 

Its grassy covers bright; 

A bit of jade 

In blue inlaid, — 

It yields the eye delight ! 

So warm the sun, so pure the air. 

So joyous is the day. 

That workers smile — 

Forget a while 

That life is aught but play. 

Smooth is the motion of the boat 
And swift our happy trip — 
Why ere we know 
Our boat will go 
Into the Ferry slip. 

The trip is past, but when you dream 
Years hence of "Long ago." 
This fair Bay scene 
On Memory's Screen 
Will live again, I know. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 
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YOU. 

Because of snags encountered on 

Life's way 
You sulk, and thereby help to spoil — 

A DAY. 

Because some one has frowned at you — 

Last YEAR— 
The Shadows of Displeasure you 

Hold near. 

Because of sadness present or 

Long past 
You lose your LIFE — still fretting to 

The last. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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SUNSET MEDITATIONS. 

The Gold of Man is quickly spent, 

We know not where it goes ; 
The Gold of God, from Heaven sent 

In ev'ry Sunset glows. 

And weary workers wend their way 
To home each night, and rest. 

Arising, with the new-born day, 
To face the Future blest. 

And when the Shades of Evening mount 

Beneath the Sunset glow 
I wonder whether people count 

Their blessings, or each woe ; 

Or if they rather count the pain 
As aftermath of joys gone past, 

And, understanding all they gain. 
Adjust themselves to Life at last. 

Sweet memories of dear ones near. 

Though bodily at rest ; 
The living faith that GOD IS HERE, 

And all who try are blest ! 



I do not try by words to preach. 

But ah ! I strive each day 
The hearts of those who mourn to reach 

To help them find the Way. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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WHAT PAYS? 

It does not pay to grieve, 
It does not pay to fret, 

Or Evil to believe — 

Though people do it yet. 

It does not pay to worry, 
It does not pay to haste, 

For sometimes too much hurry 
Is what makes all the waste. 

It does not pay to trouble 
Till Trouble troubles you, 

For Worry's Trouble's double — 
I think you'll find this true. 



Our life is but an hour. 

But if in that we grow 
The Plant of Love to flow'r 

What IS worth while we know. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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SONNET— LIFE'S POEMS. 

To him who bears no poem in his heart 
All Man's and Nature's melodies remain 
Poetic form, or just a simple name, — 
Pegasus? No! Rather plain horse and cart. 
With rules of meter no perplexing part 
He plays to whom all rhythms are the same, 
For writing is a pastime — HIS the game 
Of seeking gold, content in Business' mart. 

But he who thinks of verse as wondrous fair 
Without his dreams must count an empty 

day; 
In iridescent words true poets pray, 
And thus win added strength and lighten 

care. 
Then keep thy soul for thoughts beyond 

compare 
And live creating poems on Life's way. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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THE EARLY MORN. 

The grayish haze on water, 

And above 
The pink-streaked blue of morning 

That we love. 

The clangor of a Fog Horn 

Far away, 
And nearer, chat of workers, 

Happy, gay. 



If going to our duties 
We but SEE— 

Then glorified our ev'ry 
Hour will be. 



— Lillian E. Craner. 



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BIRTH. 

I slept, and an Angel whispered: 

"Child, thy spirit eyes unclose. 

Now gaze upon Nature's workings — 

The blush of the blooming rose, 

The rise of the lofty mountains. 

The song of the tireless sea, — 

All made by thy God, through Nature, 

While through Woman God made thee." 

I saw, in eyes of the spirit, 

I saw in eyes of the earth ; 

I knew that God's greatest blessing 

Was the pow'r to bring to birth 

A bit of strength of the mountains, 

A bit of bloom of the rose, 

A faith in an unseen power, 

A heart — and a mind that knows. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 




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SMILE. 

Happy smiles lighten trials, 

Brighten ev'ry heart ; 
Won't you try? Check the sigh, 

Do the nobler part: — 
Smile, my friend; smiling, send 

Kind thoughts forth, and lo! 
Rich delight, day and night, 

Back to you will flow. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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THE SHADES OF YOUR HEART. 

When the shade is drawn and your hfe 

seems dark 
Do you think the Sun is gone? 
It may be the break of a Summer's day — 
The wonderful hour of dawn. 

When the Sorrows come do you think the 

world 
Darkened for ever and aye? 
Then open the Shades of your Heart, my 

friend, 
To the Joy no gold can buy. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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THE SUNRISE. 

In one short hour the dark of Night is gone ; 
Happy the day — another sunrise born. 
So, lightning-like, do Worries speed away — 
Why not FORESEE the joys of the new day? 



THE ANSWER. 

I prayed for Happiness each day 

And asked for Peace at night; 

The Lord made answer: " THIS the way — 

Love — LOVE with all thy might!" 

— Lillian E. Craner. 






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"I AM BUT I?" 

"I am but I?" 

Nay, GOD is nigh, 

Making my Roadway bright; 

As time goes by, 

If I but try. 

My goal will come in sight. 

No beauty mine. 

In shape or line, 

Yet if my words can bring 

A spark divine, 

O! world of mine, 

My heart in Joy will sing. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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THE SMILE. 

Since cheery words new courage give, 
And smiles reflect the sun, 
Try smiHng ev'ry day you Hve 
And ever count your task undone 
Unless the world is happy too — 
THAT'S why God gave the Smile to you. 



SUNSHINE. 

Did you know that Sunshine grows? 

See it in the Sunset glows — 

Find it in a happy heart, — 

Smiles are Sunshine — do YOUR part. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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THE PRESENCE. 

The hours move onward while we wend our way 
Through varied lives; some smile, while others 

frown, — 
The homespun dress must pass the silken 

gown, — 
Sometimes the rich seem sad, and poor folk 

gay, 
But all, alike, find duties in the day. 
Grant Thou, O God, that we who wander down 
Thy earthly Aisles of Labor wear a Crown 
Of Faith, to give Contentment v/hen we pray. 

And somewhere, from the Great Unseen of Life, 
I feel a wondrous Presence gleaming near 
Which says: " Who work with Hope, not Fear, 
In labor toward a goal of Peace, not Strife, 
In thoughts of others giving of their Life, 
Such know me well, — and them alone I hear." 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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LIFE. 

Life is a Path we all must walk 
Throughout the changing years, 
A Road with branching side retreats 
For all our Joys and Fears. 

Life is a Book that all must read, 
And reading, write their own ; 
Life is the Music of the World, 
And ev'ry soul a tone. 

Life is a Game that all must play, 
And playing, stake their All ; 
Life is the Garden of Desire, — 
Ambition scales its Wall. 

Life seems a Scourge in time of stress, 
But ah ! in hours of Joy 
It holds the Heavens in its grasp — 
Love's Gold without alloy. 



Therefore, as through the years we go, 
Of nobler things we dream. 
And since this fleeting life of ours 
Is lighted by the gleam 

Of Love and Hope, of Work and Play, 
Of Sacrifice and Prayer, 
Let's look for God within ourselves — 
And we will find Him there. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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A WORD PORTRAIT. 

I paint for you in words, instead of shade, 
The picture of my Grandmother, so dear; 
The kindest woman that God ever made, 
And though in Heaven now, forever near. 
When in this realm of laughter and of tears 
She walked her way, her sweet and kindly 

smile 
Was powerful to banish all the fears 
That hovered o'er us ; gone our ev'ry trial 
When she was nigh. Recall soft hair of 

brown, 
And eyes as rich a brown and deeply true ; 
A face formed all for smiles — no thought of 

frown 
Unless a deed unworthy you would do. 
All Angels' faces show that dear smile ; — oh ! 
You would have loved my Grandmother, I 

know. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 




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WINTER. 

Banked clouds on the horizon, 
Cold Winter in the air, 

But warm my heart with loving — 
I hold my Sunshine THERE. 



SUMMER. 

The day will bring its Summer, 
And ev'ry hour yield Spring, 

If hearts will take the message — 
And like the birds but sing. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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LOVE'S GOLD. 

We cannot always speak our thoughts, 

And still 
A kindly word so often shows 

Our will! 
We cannot give forever of 

Our gold 
Yet smiles will oft times warm a heart 

That's cold. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 




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TODAY. 

(Dedicated to Orison Swett Harden and his 
"Joy of Living.") 

Only " Today " is ours, — 
The Past we cannot hold; 
The Future but a dream, 
Its story still untold. 

I am happy today, are you? 

But once on a time I was "blue"; 

Then I read a book 

And its lesson took, 

So I'm happy today; are you? 

And it told me TODAY we live, 

TODAY we must take and must give. 

For Today is sure — 

Make its Joy secure — 

Just be happy Today; are you? 

And it said we decide each day 
If hours shall be sad or else gay; 
While Tomorrow's near 
'Tis TODAY is HERE,— 
So I'm happy today; are you? 

Only " Today " is ours,— 
The Past we cannot hold ; 
The Future but a dream. 
Its story still untold. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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LIFE'S ESSENCE. 

To smile in others pleasure 

And to grieve when others sigh 

Is living — in a measure — 
Yet 'tis better far to try 

To smile when folks are saddened 
And in Love, and Faith sincere, 

At last leave hearts so gladdened 
That the world will hold you dear, 

— Lillian E, Craner. 




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TO YOU, DEAR WORLD. 

The world is very kind to me 

I feel, 
And so on ev'ry day my heart 

Will kneel. 
Thanking the good in every thing 

Around 
From heaven above to dewdrop on 

The ground. 
The world is very good to me 

Indeed, — 
It gives me all the sustenance 

I need; 
It gives me work, it offers 

Friendly smiles 
And blesses me with Love's support 

Through trials. 
The world is very pleasant if 

We know 
The hearts of others as through Life 

We go — 
It means so much to think the 

Kindly thought 
And offer it, when needed, 

Though unsought. 
With all the Evil that is rife 

I know 
More Good there is, and therefore as 

I go 
I, too, would smile and say my 

Cheery word — 
Feeling perhaps a heart in need 

Has heard. 
"The world is very kind" again 

I say ; 
I have its Dawn, with Sunset 

Far away ; 
Life brings its blessings in the good 

We do,— 
And so, dear World, may ev'ry day 

Bless you. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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FAITH. 

The Sorrows came, but I raised my head 
And thought : " They Hve whom we call 

the Dead." 
Through tears I gazed at the Winter sky 
And prayed for courage to Smile, not Sigh. 

When troubles wax, and pleasures wane, 
And living seems unending pain, 
Call to your aid — and hold it dear — 
Undying Faith that GOD is HERE. 

The Past is gone ; if we but gain 
A deeper courage, not in vain 
Has been the Grief ; then try thy best ; 
For Him — who made us all — the rest. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 








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THE WORKERS' PRAYER. 

Give us each day our daily work, 

Oh Lord, we pray, 
And will that we may never shirk, 

But earn our way. 

Grant us each day our honest bread, 

Oh Lord, and too 
Place us at work that points ahead 

To dreams, come true. 

Give us each night pure bodies, tired 

From working true, 
And then the rest that is required 

That we may do 

Whatever labor Thou may will. 

And thus to be, — 
No matter what the post we fill, — 

Worthy of Thee. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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EV'RY SEED HIDES A FLOW'R. 

The perfect blossom we admire 
Within a tiny seed once lay; 

And all the Joys we can desire 

In Seeds of Smiles were born one day. 

The mighty oak from acorn grows, 

From rivulet the Bay — 
But richer yield to him who sows 

Good Will seeds ev'ry day ; 

For higher than the mighty tree, 

And deeper than the Bay, 
The Love, unending, grown for thee 

If thus you plant your way. 

A smile, a word of kindliness, 
Perhaps a new-made friend, — 

And while another life you bless 
You gain as Love you spend. 



In looking back take heart, and will 

To plant new Cheer each day and hour- 
Love's fragrance then the years will fill. 
And bring the best of Life to flow'r. 

— Lillian E. Craner. 



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